The Sun. — London, England, 1864-07-16 00:00:00

ROAYL ITALIAN OP.ERA, Covent -garden. Last Week but Two. Mesdames Fried, Didiee, and Battu ; Signor Graziani, and Signor Mario. THIS EVENING (Saturday), July 16, will be performed, for the last time this seasoo, Verdi's o p e ra, in tour act s, Y 7P7 BAL LO IN 3IA.SCIIEKA. Amelia, Jldlie. Antonietta. ; Llrtca, Mdme. Didieei ; Oscar, Mdtle. Marie Battu Iteriato, Signor Graziani ; Armando, signor Taglialico; Ancri, Signor Capp ; Silvan°, Sig-nor Fat sr ;II uiudice, Sign.or Uossi ;and 11 Duca, Signor Mario. Conductor, Mr. Costa. The incidental Divertissement will be supported by M.dlle. 3.1.v0ni and M. Desplaces. Commence at half past Eight. pit tickets, 7s. ; amphitheatre sta Is, 10s. ed., 75., amphitheatre. 2s. 6d. Boxes, stalls, and tickts may be had IA the box-offic 2 under the portico of the theatre, which is open from ten to aye, and az the principal musicsellers' and librarians'. --- ..j.---- ----- _ ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-- Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. 'THIS EVENING, BORN TO GOriD LUCK. Paddy O'ltafferty, Mr. Dominick Murray. A lt er which. the new p:ay by John Oxenforcl, Esri , TILE .4.O.NASTERIC OF Sr. JUST : Me ssrs. Vining, l. Mars , - ten, J. Nelson, J. W . Ra y , 11. Mellon, IV. Robins, C. Seyton Chapman; Mrs. 11. Moisten, and Mdlle. Stella Lolas. ______----------_ _ NEW THR.A.TRE-R 0 YAL, A.DELPEI.— S,ite Prooristor and Menuror, 31r. B. Webster. Tins EVENING, THE IRISH TIGER. Mr. C. 11. ,Stephenson, Mr. Bilington. Aft e r which, JANET PRIDE : Messrs. B. Webster, J. L. T o )le, P. Bedford , Stuart , S te p henson, Rom er ; MiSS WOOlgar, xi s ,A Denman. w ith a Norrible ,and Tale: F ok :lowed by THE AREA B ELLE, Il es sr/.. J. L. 'foole, Y. Bedford , it. ItornerMiss W oolgar lira. H. Lewis. Commence at 7. R OYAL ST. JA.M.ES'S THEATRE, under the Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER. Ccowded with rank and fashion. Re-engagement of those ce'ebrazed and popular artistes, Mr. . / A Mrs. Charles Mathews. Troductisia of an entirely new i original Travestie of a very Esq., entitled FAUST popular sub j e 3/ A JteGtiETLITE, in flinch Mr. and Mrs Charles AN D Mathews w ill appear. The new scenery by the celebrat ed artists, Messrs. Danson and Sons ; the incidental Ballet by Uses'. Byrne. Amongst the artists engaged will be found the ropular name' s% ot Mr. Benjamin Toole} Charles Mathews. Mr. Frank Matthews, Mr. J. L. Mr. J. Clarke, Mr. l'Aul _Bedford, Mr. ;F. Robinson, Mr. Ashley, Mr. J. Johnstone; jitis:.4 Herbert, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss 11. Simms, 3liss Cottrell, Miss Fanny Josephs, Miss Patti Josephs, Miss Wentworth, Mrs. Stirling, ana Mrs. Chas. Mathews. EVERY EVENING, at 7, A SHEEP IN WOLF'S CLOTHING. Mrs. Stirling, Mr. J. Clarke, and Mr. F. Itobinson. At a quarter-past 8, a new Travestie, entitled FAUST AND MARGUERITE : Mr. Chas. Mathews, Mr. J. Clarke, Mr. Ashley, Mr. Montague, Mr. W. U. Eburne, Mr. W. Chamberiaine, and Mrs. C. Mathews. At 10, LITTLE TODDLEKINS, Mr. Charles Mathews, Mr. and Mrs. F. Matthews. To conclude with RISTL DIAMONDS. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mathews, Mr ß . Ash ey O , Miss Wentworth. OPERA and RACE GLASSES, Field and Yacht Glasses, in every varie'y of size, form, and mounting, ' ma tchless for their grea t magnifyin!, power and sharpness of definition. Price, from 30s. each, at CALLAGAAN'S, 23A, New Bond-street, NV., corner of Conduit-street. Sole agent for the celebrated race and field glasses and photo graphic lenses made by VeLT,tlander, Vienna. Field glasses inane expressly for India, warranted to withstand the greatest tropical heat. The new aluminium mounted glasses (as re cently made for 1.1.R.11. the Prince of Wales;, though of the largest size, weigh but a tew ounces. MOSES AND SON JEA• respectfully call attention to their large and well assorted stock of JUVENILE CLOTHING-. The newest iaorics are combined with the latest and most fashionable nesigns, and the best workmanship. E. MOSES and SON g i ve particular attention to this important branc h of their 'b u siness, and they can with confidence affirm that the prices Are such as must satisfy the most economical. Tnis depart ment is in a distinct part of the premises, which will be found great convenience Tor ladies and children, lIMOSES AND SON • respectfully invife public attention to their large and well-assorted SPICING STOCK. MOSES AND SON'S • "SANDRINGHAM" WRAPPER J u Lroduce d by the } i ms the newest and most fashionable style ot Overcoats for the season. elUi MOSES AND S ON'S 1124 • READY-MADE and BESPOKE CLOTHINa for all classes and all ages. E MOSES AND SON'S • CELEBRATED "INDISPENSABLE" SUIT, from 30s. MOSES AND SON'S E • HOSIERY and DRAPERY, for all classes and all ages. "Ll MOSES AND SON'S jUi• HATS AND CAPS, for all c asses and all ages. EIIIOSES AND S ON ' 6 • BOOTS and SHOES, for all classes and all ages. MOSES AND SON'S • OUTFITS. for all classes, all age,, and all climates. E e MOSES AN D SON'S LONDON HOUSES, 154, 155, 15., 157, Minories; 83, 81, 85, 86, 87, 88. 89, Aldgate ; 506, 507, 508, New Oxtord—street ; 1,2, 3, Hart-street ; 137, 138, rl'ottenham-court-road ; 288, Euston-road MOSES AND SON'S • COUNTRY ESTABLISHMENT, Bridge-street, Bradford, Yorkshire. EMOSES AND S ON'S • Establishments are closed every Friday evening at sunset until Saturday evening at sunset, when business is re sumed until 11 o'clock. A 1 articles an marked the lowest prices in plain figures. Any article not appnved of will be exchanged, or the money re' urned. List of Prices with Rules for Self-measurement, Fashion Card, and our new pamphlet, "The Tercentenary; or, The e Th re e Hundredth 131.1thclay of William Shakspeare," grati and post free. COALS. —The LILLESH.ALL COMPANY'S COALS. Direct from their own Collieries. Marquis'.......2 3 s. per ton. I Double.. 2os. per ton. T o p 22a. „ Deep 2ls. „ Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De ' pots, Westbounae Park-road, W., and i 7, South Wharf, Paddington, W., and Maiden-lane, N. Best Coko 'as. per chaldron. Terms cash. JOHN SCOTT, Sole Agent nrIFIE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," j. Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, e4a be had Every Evening of G. R. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. The Weather—Sun Office, July 16, 1664. TitEIiNIOMETER. This day at Two o'clock 7O Barometer-30.14. WrND—N.E. ; light breeze and fine. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. ram DAT.—Morning, llh. 18m.—Afternoon, 11h. 54m, To-mo - a.8.0w.-Morning, h. m.—Afternoon, 12h. 22m, 4 ,43 1 7 1 -7.5 be efitt 0. , .; ONE nit LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1864 The extraordinary circumstances attendant upon the death of Mr. THOMAS BRIGGS (chief clerk at the blnking firm of Messrs. RUBARTS, LUBBOCK, and still remain, up to the moment at which CorapanY) , we are writing, wholly unexplained. All, in fact, that is yet known in regard to teat death may be very readily rec apitulated. It was frightfully sudden in its occurrence —rapid in its completian— and, to all appearance, was a death of extraordi nary violence. Everything about it—in spite of its bewildering suddenness, and in spite also of the still more bewildering rapidity of its comple tion—pointed distinctly, upon the first discovery of the facts of the case, to its being the result of a most brutal murder. Th e particulars that seemingly point it oat thus as a case of assassination are,among others, these—The fearful injuries (as from heav y blows) discovered upon the head of the deceased ! The blood-stained floor and cushions of the compart ment of the first class railway carriage in which he had, but a few seconds before, been travelling. The bloody fin ger-marks upon the windows,upon the door handle, upon the latch of his empty leather-bag, as well as upon the footboard and the external pa nne i_ ling of the railway carriage in which he had died and from which he had besn precipitated. Other circumstances indicate no less conclusively the fact that it must havo been a death accomplished by the hand of a !murderer. Among these—the missing watch and gold aihert-chain, the fastening of the extremity of which chain was found attached to the buttonshole of the dead man's waistcoat, the rest of the chain and - the gold chro nometer having vanished. Added to this circum stance the fact of the chain having been exchanged, under most suspicious circumstances, the very morning after Mr. BRIGGS'S sudden and apparently violent death, and parted with thus by a man since then nowhere discoverable. Then, again, there i s the otherwise surely very remarkable eircumstal Ice of a hat being found in the blood -bespattered 'rail way carriage compartment, which turned out to be— not the dead man's, but another man's hat—and that man nowhere any more traceable as yet than 1 the exchanger of the gold chain already mentiorAtd ! There—in the scene of all this fearful bl')odAhed, there in that railway carriage compartment, toge ther with the dead man's stick and leatlern bag (the latter with the mark of the bloody hand upon its fastening) was—not the deceased's hat', but —another man's—a stranger'o! Not a genti eman's hat—not a hat of the better sort—but a common cheap London hat—belonging to some - unknown person. Everything here, we repeat, paints to the f,;.ec of Mr. BRIGGS'S death baying been one of great brutality and violence, caused by the hand of a murderer. One's instant impression is that the strange, battered, bloodstained, common hat is the murderer's ! One's instant impression is also that the blocdy finger-marks on the fastening of the dead man's leather bag were the bloody finger-marks of the murderer. That murderer seeking—while yet red handed—in the bag, the booty he had hoped to win by reason of this deed of assassina tion. The forcible rending away from the dead man's possession of his gold watch and his gold chain—all except the hook or fastening of the latter, where it was too strongly entangled with his clothing to be extricated in a hurry—this likewise seems to us, quite as clearly as the rest of it, to have been the work cf a murderer, and of none else than a murderer, or a murderer's accomplice. It may pos sibly be deemed by some a mere waste of worth, in sisting upon all this, under such very frightful and extraordinary circumstances• Yet, so singularly ingenious an hypothesis has been thrown out this morning by an anonymous correspondent of our morning contemporary the Herald, to the effect that the death of Mr. BRIGGS was, after all, the result of no murder whatever, that we have felt constrained to recall the above mentioned facts to mind, before giving the argument put forth in this same ingenious hypothesis in the manner fol lowing. The deceased gentleman—suggests this cor respondent of our contemporary—" Mr,Briggs, had been dining out, and possibly from congestion he may have had an attack of hemeetemisis, or vomiting of blood ; from giddiness or other apoplectic feeling about the head he may have taken up the first hat he found at his last place of call, and hurried to the train ; there he is seized with vomiting, and to his horror he discovers it is blood ; he turns over the cushions to ascertain the fact, and on doing so, he tries the window, but finds it barred. He then, with his bloody hand, tries the handle of the door to get it open, and while pushing and turning the handle, the door flies open, and out he is precipi tated on his head, the watchguard or any loop catching any projection, and the watch and guard either carried along the line on the footboard, or thrown with him, where it may yet be found. I might enter into more minute details to account for minor circumstances, " observes the correspondent," but fearing to tresspass on your columns, I only wish to add that an assault oa a banker's clerk, with the hope of finding money, would scarcely be undertaken at ten o'clock on a Saturday night, or any night returning from a bank." Now, of course, as the prepounde: of this (we repeat) very ingenious hypothesis insists above, all this may have occurred precisely according to his conjectures. Mr. BRIGGS may have taken the stranger's hat instead of his own by mistake—and so forth. But—if he fumbles with his blood soaked hand at the window and at the door to g. t each open—how comes he to be fumbling pre viously with the lock of his own empty leather bag ? What possibly could he have been doing that for ? Again, the gold watch may have been torn out of his pocket, during the accidental fall hero hinted at, and have been throw❑ somewhere on to the line, where it may yet be dis covered lying ! Only—days and nights have since passed by—and it has not been so discovered nor even a fragment of it! And—what is more—the missing gold chain, the gold chain missed simul taneously, from the dead body, together with the gold chronometer, is known to have been exchanged the day afterwards, on the sly, by an unknown man, who can nowhere since then be discovered. No—the strange, common, cheap hat, found blood stained and battered in that ghastly railway car• riage compartment—the disappearance of the gold chronometer—the mysterious exchange made by some unknown and undiecoverable person of the lost gold chain—the bloody hand.mark on the dead man's travelling-bag —to say nothing about the murderous wounds discovered upon the skull of the unfortunate deceased—all point clearly and distinctly, to our thinking, to his death as the result of a most brutal, sudden, ruthless, inhuman assassination. The railway official whom he had cheerily bidden " Good Night" a minute or two before his awful and violent death, can testify that, even as recently as up to that moment, there was no evidence of the confusion supposed by the correspondent to have been so heavily by that time upon Mr. BRIGGS' faculties that he had blundered himself out of the possession of his own hat and instead of that carrying away upon his head that of another person's! One other con sideration not yet referred to by ns about the cirri cumetance attendant upon Mr. BRIGGS'S appalling death we would here direct especial attention to, as, to our thinking, in its way, perfectly conclusive, that the unhappy gentlemen did noc come by his death in the manner suggested by this correspondent, but that he did die the death of the victim of a cruel and inhuman murder. This simple, and, as we conceive, quite conclusive con sideration, being the fact that the door of that hideously blood saturated compartment of the railway carriage —in which the dead man's stick and travelling bag (the both blood ' stained) was f oun d, together with the common cheap hat of some other person un known—that the door of that compartment, from which the dead man's body had been precipitated, was found—closed-to afterwards ! And not swings ing wildly open—as must have been the case had the deceased fallen out, as suggested, merely by accident! There is an old adage which tells tts that there are none so deaf as those that will not hear ; and certainly it may be followed by the aphorism that none are so dull as those that will not under stand. It is certainly a very strange thing that no amount of argument or opposition, or even an ad verse vote, can succeed in convincing her MAJESTY'S Ministers that it is the wish and intention of the House of Corom.ins to retain the National Gallery on its present site. In this matter at least the pre sent House fairly enough represents the feelings of the people, although its political views have i n m any instances proved in opposition to the public. It has given a decided opinion on the matter, and has been supported in its opposition to the favourite scheme of Government by the general feeling of all classes. The re t ent i on of the N at i on al Gallery on its present site i s read i ly most sensible and suitabl e method of settling the long discussion. The spot i s st r i eg llocenntirsaalbilen as ee ino of the spreading suburbs; it is easily access ibl e OA foot or by vehicle, while the great focus of railways at rim sms, LONDW , SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 16, 1864 Hungerford will add still greater facilities to the means of access already existing. Thanks to those metrepolitan lines which are threatening to turn London upside down, entirely for the convenience of the sufferers, persons may now traverse its wil• derness of streets with very little delay or fatigue ; but it is undoubtedly the right course to pursue with a building of this character to place it in a position which is within easy reach of all classes, not only of those more favoured mem bers of society, who possess the magic agent which contracts time and space. If, indeed, the National Gallery were now in a situation which did not accord with the character of the institution, it might be desirable to reconsider the point, but Trafalgar- Eqaare has been styled " the finest site in Europe," and it is capable of being made, as it ought to be, the centre of artistic interest. Within s iew of the old historic walls of Westminster and the Houses of Parliament, were the intervening streets enlarged and improved, as they ought to be, with the monu ment of our greatest naval hero in its front, surrounded, if the design be ever fairly carried out, by memorials of other English worthies, there could scarcely be a more fitting locality with regard to external associations. If half the care and money were expended on Trafalgar-square that have been lavished on those favoured spots near Kensington, it would now present an appearance a little more in accordance with our national dignity and with the wishes of the public. People very naturally prefer to fix their place of abode at a little distance from the centre of business, but they do not expect all the old fixtures, as CHAS. MATHEWS says, to become part of the moveables. Nobody pretends that it would be desirable for the Commons to re move their place of deliberation from St. Stephen's to Kensington or Brompton—no one advises that St. Paul's should be transported to some more airy or elegant situation in the west. There are changes enough being clamoured for which the Government is unwilling to grant, or even to eutertain the idea of; but this transposition, which is not wanted, they are always ready to tattle about. In the dis cussion which arose in Supply on Thursday even. ing the old feeling was very strongly manifested. Three separate representatives of the Government —one of them the Prime Minister himself—per sisted with some ascerbity in pretending that the House of Commons had come to no decision on the matter. The right hon. speakers were warned by the continued interruptions of the House that their memories were inaccurate, and, indeed, they were told so plainly enough. Sir TOHN SHELLEY, in his usual straightforward manner, said that he thought it a most unfortunate circumstance that the House, do what it might, could not persuade Ministers that it was determined that the National Gallery should remain at Trafalgar-square. Surely, said the hon. baronet, it was the clay of the First Commissioner of Works to bow to the decision of the House. But Ministers with crotchets and pet schemes are not very willing to submit to any unfavourable decision, and accordingly it is easy to assert that the house, though it has expressed its opinion pretty often, and once or twice in an unmistakable manner, has never actually committed itself to any particular scheme, Lord PALMERSTON was full of virtuous indignation because the House expected the Govern ment to have a scheme ready at once when they had just refused to accept the Ministerial proposal, which, even as the noble lord put it, sounds absurd enough to merit the most emphatic disapproval. " What they had thought best, was to provide for the National Gallery at the back cf Burlington House, and to leave the Royal Academy at Trafal gar-square." The noble lord hopes next session to propose some scheme which will reconcile all existing differences. What that scheme is to be the future must unfold, but it must be very different from any thing that has yet issued from higher cfficial guar. ters before it will commend itself to the common sense and right feeling of the people. The Factory Acts Extension Bill has psssed through Committee. This is very satisfactory to reflect upon, for it is a measure that was urgently called for, and indeed the only wonder is that it was not sooner projected. It must not be suppos;,•d either that enough has been done in this line, for, as Lord SHAFTESBURY observed, this should be only the precursor of a series of measures which would confer the greatest benefit on the country. It is a sad thing that while wealth increases and commerce flourishes, the health of the operatives should be injured, and their lives too often sacri ficed in consequence of the want of precautions being adopted and due observance paid to the im portant rules which relate to health and the violation of which entails such useful con sequences. The working of this bill will be the means of affording relief to a hundred thousand children and young people who have hitherto drooped under the pressure of overwork, and that under circumstances which militated greatly against their health, It is always a source o fdeserving mind to reflect that gr t e h a e t pleasurerisinggenteo the generation are well cared f o r. The re is no greater security for the well-b e i ng o f a S ta t e than the right training of its youth. It is not in accordance:with the - laws of ancient wisdom, or con sonant with the principles that modern science has inculcated, to allow the culpable neglect that of late years has taken place among us to continue. It this timely aid had not been administered, and this respite allowed to these overtaxed faculties and over worked frames, the consequences at a future period would undoubtedly have been fatal to themselves in many instances, and injurious to the interests of the community. There is no greater mistake than this over hurry to get rich, and many disastrous results have ensued therefrom: There is great truth in Lora SHAFTESBURY'S remarks on the claims which the workpeople of this country have on the conside ration of the House. During the late cotton famine no riots had taken place, and indeed the noble lord said that their predictions had been verified, that if the Factory Bill passed there would be no more sedition in these places. It is some relief to those who regret that the state of the young operatives throughout the country should be so bad, to know that since the recent factory legislation took place the condition of the children there has much im proved, and that deformity has almost entirely dis appeared. These facts prove beyond dispute that the criticism of captious persons is unfounded, and that great goud may be effected by the adoption of these remedial schemes. A suggestion WAS made that the Lucifer match manufacturers and the makers of percussion caps should be exempted these regulations, but most fortunately it was not paid attention, to, for Lord SHAFTESBURY eon- firmed the statement already made by many com. petent judges, as to the very injurious nature of these professions. In fact, these trades aro about the worst that exist. The employment of mak. ing lucifer matches gives rise to jaw disease; and women and young children are those who are generally engaged in the making of percussion caps. The two hours' extra work, from six to eight, from which the provisions of this bill release them, are I very injurious, and the beneficial consequences of this shortening of their toil will now be apparent, as it has been in the case of the operatives of the factories. The gas at night is prejudicial iu the close rooms where they work, and these hours after the long day's labour come very heavy upon those who begin the career of an operative at so early an age, What may seem trivial alterations to those who have never been in the habit of being much with these classes, or of witnessing the effects of their toilsome career, is, in reality, a most important change, and one that is sure to work well and hap pily for them in the longrun. Lord SHAFTESBURY must be as competent a judge in such matters as anyone, for he has devoted himself to the task during many long years, and he has exhibited such pains in the prosecution of the arduous researches necessary for the due compre hension of the case, that those who have not had inclination cr opportunity to judge for themselves, and become personally acquainted with the state of the operations, and the effect which their labour has upon them, can confidently rely upon his judgment in all matters that are disputed. There was great opposition to the changes in the factory hours of labour at the time when the measure was first in troduced, and the most disheartening prophecies were uttered, but time has proved that these objec tions were fallacies, and that all the predictions of the supporters of the bill have been more than verified. It is then very gratifying to think that another of these remedial measures has been passed, and that there is every reason to believe that the same beneficial results will accrue even as on a former oecesion. It is one of the most difficult things in the world to make the enactments that relate to the hours of labour and the mode of conducting its procedure, but the eifficulties ought to be vigorously contended with, and those who struggle in the cause may learn that success in such an undertak ing is one of the most enduring and excellent kinds of triumph, and that failure in such attempts is still creditable, and may pave the way for the future efforts of philanthropic individuals in the same cause. The Peacock Testimonial, In laying the'subjeot of the Peacock Testimonial before our readers, we merely perform, says the Daily Shipping News, one of the duties which it is intended our journal shalt discharge. Those inte. rested in the shipping of the port of London stood in need of increased facilities for getting their views ventilated in matters of a purely class nature. The claims of Captain Peacock will have been made known 'this morning by the numerous circulars of the influential committee who told a meeting at the office of Messrs. Cowan, Heasley, and Co., Great LATEST INTELLIGENCE. LREIITER'S TELEGRAMS.] AMERICA. (Per the Africa.) The Royal Mail steamship Africa, from Boston on the 6th and Halifax on the Bth July, arrived at Queenstown at 4 a.m. today (July 16). She brings 77 p as sengers and 61,431 dollars in specie. Sh e landed 113 sticks of mails and 12 passengers, and proceeded at 415 a.m. for Liverpool. All well. NEW YORK, JULY 5, Evening. Senator Fessenden has accepted the office of Sec retary of the Treasury. Tne Government has withdrawn its proposal for bids for the bslance of the loan of seventy-five millions. Wilson's cavalry has entirely destroyed GO miles of the Southern railroad. Gan. Hunter has reached Charlestown, Virginia. Congress has adjourned sine die. The New York and the City of Baltimore have arrived out. (By Telegraph to Halifax.) NEW YORK, July 7, Evening. A large Confederate force has occupied Harper's Ferry and Hagarstown, Maryland, and is advancing northward. President Lincoln has called out the militia to repel the invasion. Wilson's cavalry has returned, having lost 13 guns and 1,000 prisoners. It is expected that Grant is nearly ready for another demonstration against Petersburg. Sherman has occupied Marietta and Kenesaw. Johnston has retreated to Chattahoochie. Eweli's forces, estimated to number 30,000 men, have advanced safely up the Shenandoah Valley. After a severe fight they evacuated Martinsburg and retreated towards Maryland Heights. The Federals have abandoned Harper's Ferry and den stroycd the bridge. The Confederates are at Harper's Ferry preparing to attack the Maryland Heights. Marauding parties appeared at Frederick, Point of Rocks, Greencastle, and Chambersburg, Penn sylvania. Great alarm is felt along the Pennsyl vanian border. It is supposed that the main Confederate body will march to Frederick, Maryland. Hunter's forces are moving to attack the Con.. • St. Helen's, on Taesday afternoon. Captain Pea, ears ago sacrificed cock some four-and twenty 3 commission and standing in ;he British Navy to take command of the first steamship that passed the Straits of Magellan to the Pacific coast. He was therefore the pioneer of West Coast Steam Navigation, and that circumstance, in conjunction with the maintenance of useful and genial West Coast relations subsisting from then till now, have, in the opinion of numerous friends—especially of the West Coast—justified the putting forward of Captain Peacock's claims to acknowledgment. They think that he who was the first to demonstrate the practicability of long-voyage steam navigation, an achievement chronicled in the annals of Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Equador, and New Grenada should not remain unrecognised in the England which has profited so much by the development of West Coast trade. They think also that at a time when the cfficers and seamen of the mercantile marine are at the best received into the service of the Crown in a half-hearted kind of manner, he who among living men was one of the earliest examples of preference for the merchant flag should now, in his declining Sears, receive that testimonial which long ago might have been appropriately bestowed. The committee believe that those now honouring Capt. Peacock will honour the country's merchant flag. Of Captain Peacock we profess to know nothing. For any other officer of the mercantile marine similarly recommended for distinguished service and honourable life we would cheerfully bespeak as much favour. We think that they who ought to have our help should receive it. We give it, therefore, in this case on public grounds. The officers of the mercantile marine, old and young, have never been, so far as we are aware, over valued. On the contrary, there is no want of evidence of their being too often highly thought of. In the Navy, especially, they have been long regarded as a low-bred and inferior class. We are not sure that this feeling has ever yet wholly passed away. Many of our old admirals are still the con ceited fools that they always were. Nor can it be said that the Admiralty exhibit more than half the liberality that they ought to do. Why should the commander of a first-class merchant ship be incom petent to command a first-class Queen's ship Press the Admiralty on the point, and the sole objection will be that the commanders of first class merchant ships are not lords, not gentry, nor men put for ward by others who happen to have the disposal of a rotten Parliamentary borough. This surely is a narrow view of the fitness of any class of men. Good seama nshi p with all that that implies, is something apart from and superior to birth or influence. As a rule the best sailors are the self-made men, whose lives have been marked by ups and downs, and who, by stea diness and industry, have gained the ladder's top. On the other hand, the rule is that the worst sailors are the feather bed, silver spoon gentlemen with which the Navy now abounds. Such sailors could not hold a candle to the officers of the merchant service. The latter are seasoned for endurance— the former have still to endure their seasoning. The Admiralty commit a serious blunder in practi• tally excluding from the service of their country the very men on whom the country must rely in a time of danger. Railway Accidents, -„- TO THE EDITOR OF TILE 5."r4 Sin,—lt i s difficult to understand why railway directors persist in ignoring three admirable safeguards, all of which are practised in America, with success, for the prevention of railway accidents. Firstly, Why is there not the simple machinery called the cow lifter, whi ch, when attached to the fore part of the engine, c a n lift off any obstruction, livin g or inanimate ; and which plan, therefo re, in ni g ht travel ling, is especially useful ° Secondly , Why is there not a bell rope running through loops within tho railway car riages, enabling pass engers , in case of illn ess or of robber y , to communicate with th e en gineer or g uard? The objeo tion which I have hea r d alleged trit'g7,6 be used by foolish or mischievous persons to hoax the officials; but this objection does not apply in America, and I do not understand why it should apply in England, At any rate, the plan deserves a fair trial, and this remark applies to the well known plan of exchanging email num- bered plates with the railway gua rd or p orter, for the car riage and sate delivery of lugg a g e from one station to another station, perhaps hundreds of miles distant,— Yours, do., C4ll. COO E, July 14, ___.....—.---........... SUDDEN DEATII OF VIE 1) EFUTY CLERK OF THE PEACE,-0a Wednesday an inquest was held at the Sessions House, Clorkenwell-Green, relative to the death of Mr Baldwin, aged 52, who was found dead in his office on Tuesday afternoon last. From the evidence of Mr Charles Robert Harper, a clerk in the Peace-office, it appeared that the deceased was the deputy clerk, whom he saw last alive about half-past eleven on Tuesd a y morning. He complained of a numbness in the limbs an d dryness in the throat. De ceased was then in his inner (ace. Shortly before h a lf_ past four o'clock iu the afternoon witness found hiat sitting in his chair dead. :Mr Charles J. Austin, sur g eon, said that death was caused by fatty degeneration of the heart. The jury returned a verdict of deat h from natural causes. A CAPTIOUS AND VIOLENT ROGUE. —A man with several aliases, including Goodenough, smith, and Williams, was tried before Mr Justice Byles, at Winches ter, on Thursday, for five burglaries committed in different parts of Hampshire, He c hallenged no less than 20 jury. men, on the ground that there was a prejudice against him in the county, and then apparently went into a fit, and lay on the floor of the dock, A. jury was made up from the persons in court, and the trial proceeded, it being shown in evidence that the prisoner was captured at Bristol after a desperate resistance, in which he used a knife and a six barrelled revolver, stabbing one of the officers, lie was surrounded in the dock by a strong force of police , it being considered probable that he would be violent, He was found guilty and sentenced to 14 years' penal servitude, and is still to be tried for being at large before the expira ticat of a former seAteme of 15 Beare' traneoraticas federates. President Lincoln called out 12,000 New York Militia, 12,000 Pennsylvania, and 5,000 Massa. cbusetts Militia. Martial law has been proclaimed and the Habeas Corpus Act suspended in Kentucky. The steamer Rose has been destroyed. The Asia has arrived out. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, JULY 5, Evening. Money tight. Gold 246. Exchange on London, bankers' bills 263. Stocks advancirg. New York Centrals, 134; ; Illinois Shares, 132; Erie, 1151 ; I'oited States Six per Cents,, 5.20's Bonds, 105. NEW YORK, July 7, Evening. Money tight. Gold 271. Market excited and tending upwards. Exchange on London, bankers' bills, 290. Stocks steady. New York Centrals, 1331 ; Illinois Shares, 130 ; Erie, 114 i ; Six per Cent, United States 540 Bonds, 104. Cotton—Middling Uplands, 160 e. to 163 e. Flour, wheat, corn, and provisions advancing. Coffee quiet. Sugar advancing. Molasses very firm. Petroleum, crude, 531 ; refined, 90 to 02. FROM THE TIMES' CORRESPONDENT. NEW YORK, July 5. General Wilson, after three days' conflict, during which he lost all his trains, artillery, wounded, and 1,000 men, has by a detour of 30 miles escaped through the Confederate lines and rejoined Grant. ,General Baldy Smith en the morning of the 30th attempted the capture of the Confederate intrench ments in his front, but was repulsed. On the 3d a Confederate force, variously esti mated at from 6,000 to a full corps, and reported to be under General Ewell, occupied Martinsburg, and drove Sigel to Harper's Ferry. An invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania is apprehended, and portions of the Confederate force are asserted to have already crossed the Potomac at Falling Waters, Dam No. 4, and Williamsport. Sherman reports that he occupied Kenese,w Mountain and Marietta on the morning of the 3d, the Confederates having retired towards the Chat tahooehie. Memphis papers state that General Carr defeated the Confederate General Shelby near St. Charles, Arkansas, on the 27th ult., capturing 200 prisoners and several cannon. The Federal loss was 200, that of the Confederates in killed and wounded is esti- mated at 500. During the night Shelby was reinforced by Mar maduke, when Carr retreated. It is reported that .Marmaduke and Shelby are moving for a combined attack upon Steele at Little Rock. Congre.s adjourned sine die yesterday. Mr. Fessenden has accepted the Secretaryship of the Treasury, and entered upon the duties of the office this morning. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Gold opened at 235 and gradually rose to 246. Exchange, 266. Sixes, registered, 1881, 1041 ; Five• Twenties (Coupons), 1041; Seven-Thirties, IC4i ; New York Centrals, 1341 ; Illinois Centrals, 132; Eries, 1151. Breadsta s s advancing. Provisions active. JULY 7. The President has demanded 12,000 militia from New York, 12,000 £LULU Pennsylvania, and 6,000 from Massachusetts to repel the Confederate inva- sion. Sigel holds Maryland heights, and the Conte• rates Harper's Ferry and Hagerstown. The object of the invasion is unknown. It is supposed by some to be a mere raid for horses and stores, and by others the capture of Baltimore. Martial law is proclaimed in ii.entucky. Gold, 271 Cotton, 163 c. DENMARK. SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES AND NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. VIENNA, JULY 16. The proposals of Denmark, addressed direct to the Courts of Berlin and Vienna, have been met on the part of Austria and Prussia by a suspension of arms on land and sea until the 31st July, during which period the blockade will be raised. The German Powers have added the request that Denmark will immediately send plenipotentiaries to Vienna, in order to cr.lme to an understanding with Austria and Prussia relative to the basis of peace, SPAIN. MADRID, JutN 15. Intelligence received hero states that several despatches of Admiral Puizon to his Government have been stolen during the passage of the couriers across the Isthmus of Panama. SWEDEN. STOCKHOLM, JULY 15, The Dagl Qt Allehanda of to-dap says;—" mark is of little importance to strengthen Scandi navia againat lkela. The absorption of Dentmit by Germany would inEpiro us with pity, but not with alarm." The construction of the first monitor for the Swedish navy has been commenced at the iron works. The material f'or two others are ready. THE PRINCIPALITIES. PROCLAMATION OF PRINCE COUZA. BUCHAREST, JULY 15. A proclamation has been issued by Prince Couza, stating the results of his journey to Constantinople, and expressing the gratitude of the country towards the Suzerain Court and the guaranteeing Powers. The Prince also formally announces that the Powers' havo recognised, saving some slight modifications, the acts of the 2d May, sanctioned by a plebiscite of the Roumain people. The Roumain Moniteur publishes the statute of the new electoral law. Another decree constitutes the Council of State and a Board of Control, and appoints the members of the same. FRANCE. BOURSE, July 15.—The market had rather a downward tendency at the opening, but afterwards rallied, Threes, for the Account, after receding to 66f. 35c,, are now again unvaried at 66f. 45c. Uailway Market firm, with previous prices up to the present time pretty well maintained. The market closed as follows :- 41 per Cents. V4 80 Italian Loan 6B 25 Do. end 3 per Cents Do. end month 66 45 Credit Mobilier 1025 Do. end menth 102.5 Bank Shares 3420 Credit Foncier 1230 Roman Do. end month.... 68 45 Ditto Threes .. New Mexican .... 57 50 Russian - Austrian .. Spanish Threes.. .• 60 Home Debt • • - Deferred -• RAIL WAYS* Cash. Account. Orleans 877 50 .. 871 25 Northern Lyons and lledituranean 805 897 50 New ditto Southern Western ••• . e • Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard North of Spain Saragossa 530 528 75 Ditto to Barcelona „ 2,50 260 The - National Rifle Association, WIMBLEDON PRIZE MEETING. FOURTH DAY. The camp fires were lighted for the first time on Thursday evening, and a repetition of the scenes of good-humour and merriment which formed so agreeable a contrast to the exertions of the day took place, The proceedings were of the same picturesque character as those of last year; and the amateur vocalist who then sang the song of " Jack and the Mermaid," which has since attained to so much popularity, was not less happy in his convivial character. Captain Drake shared the honours of the evening with Mr Harris, and Lord and Lady Elcho had the gratification of hearing and seeing their healths proposed and drank with a heartiness and joviality which could not fail to have been exceedingly agreeable, and the terms in which the noble lord acknowledged the compliment appeared as unaffectedly genaine. Some fears had been expressed that these jovial meetings would not find much encouragement at headquarters, on the ground that they would interfere with that steadiness of hand and clearness of sight which aro so essential to the good marksman. Lord Elcho adverted to the necessity of keeping these midnight entertainments within reasonable bounds,on account not less of the volunteers themselves than of safety to the camp, which is now a very extensive one, and contains a large amount of valuable property. The lights in the camp were put out at 11 o'clock, and it was understood that that would in future be the hour for closing all festivities of this description. In addition to the songs of Mr Harris and Captain Drake, the proceedings were enlivened by Lord Bury, who swig " Tho gay cavalier." Lord Aber deen also took part in this extemporised concert ; Lord Dufferin begged to be excused, en the score of the vocalist's usual excuse, a severe cold, and a party of the Victories sang with much heartiness the popular air and chorus, " Sally come up." The more distinguished of the company included Lord and Lady Echo, Lord and Lady Bury, Lord Bolton, Earl Dacie, Lord Dufferin, Lord Fielding, Lord Aberdeen, Captain Mildmay, &c., and it was plea sant to notice the spirit of fraternity, liberty, and equality which pervaded the whole meeting. Peer and peasant, soldier and civilian ; ledy visitors, in opera cloaks and lace mantillas, and villagers from the neighbourhood in more humble garb; shoe. backs, and gentlemen in evening dress and white cravats, telling of the dinner table which they had deserted; volunteers in uniform of every shade and colour—Royal Scottish and Royal Irish, representatives of every county in the United Kingdom—all met upon equal term?, and enjoyed the fun and frolic, the chaff, the good humour which everywhere prevailed at this merry meeting round the Wimbledon camp fire. In connection with these convivial meetings it will not be out of place to mention how completely successful the council has been this year in the matter of refreshments, certainly a most important point, when it is considered how large a portion of the day the volunteers have to pass at Wimbledon. The council have solved one of the great difficulties of the day, and those who have the duty of providing for the creature comforts of large bodies of people would do well to take a lesson from the example which is set by M. Jennison, of Manchester, in this respect. This contractor has been in the habit for some time past of supplying good substantial re freshments to thousands of persons at the Belle Vue Gardens in 'Manchester, and the experience which he has there obtained has now been turned to good accoureZ. The manner in which this department was carried out last year gave universal satisfaction, and the same good system is now adopted. A better testimonial could not possibly be given than that of the report to the council of the inspecting officers, of which the following is a copy ; " We have the honour to report, for the information of the Council of the National BAP.° Association, upon the state of the refreshments, of which we have had charge during this meeting. The provisions of every kind have bean of the best quality and well cooked. The liquors have also been good, and moderate in price. The attendance, with the exception of the first day, has been perfectly satisfactory. We have not received a single serious complaint from any person during the meeting. We cannot suggest any improvement in the arrangement in this department for future meetings. We conclude by stating that, in our opinion, the whole management is creditable to the Messrs Jennison, of Belle 'Vile, Manchester, who evidently perfectly understand their business." Yesterday the firing for the last range of 600 yards in the first stage of the Queen's was commenced, and continued throughout the day. Some very good practice was made, but it did not on the whole indicate any advance over that of last year. The glare of the sun was excessively bright, and inter fered to a considerable extent with the accuracy of aim ; while the extraordinary heat of the weather induced a considerable amount of lassitude on the part of the competitors. Some very excellent shoot ing has, however, been made, Dr. Avis made 11 bull's-eyes and 16 centres, shooting consecutively ; and Captain Webb, with a Westley Richard's rifle, firing at the running deer scored 9 bull's-eyes, 10 centres and 7 (aters, consecutive shooting. Mr. Frere, of the London Rifle Brigade, made some very good practice, scoring 45 in the first stage of the Queen's, thus securing a rifle, this being the third which he has Won at three consecu tive meetings at 'Wimbledon. Mr. Ross, jun., made some splendid practice with the telescopic rifle ; he made four bull's-eyes and a centre, scoring 19 marks, the highest he could make being 20. Ile also made four bull' s eyes at sighting, thus ma kin g tne extraordinary sheeting of eight consecutive hull's. eyes and a centre. At the first stage of the Queen's it was reported that the three highest scores were 47. Last year the two highest were ties at 49. The heat of the weather has been most oppressive, One gentleman, Mr. F. W. Street, manager of the old bank at Arundel, had Ei §ttatr oke, Was ti-Aker, home, and is reported to have died yesterday. Ho was a member of the 9th Sussex corps. The London Rifle Brigade have offered a prize of £5O, to be competed for with the Enfield rifle, without restriction as to position or ammunition. The entrance fee is to be 55., the lowest, in com• prison with the amount of the prize, of any that is offered to the competitors, and it is expected that the competition will have the effect of bringing prominently under notice some bullets of different form than the regulation ones, but still adapted for the Enfield rifle. reo 11°,111‘b 61" 4"- i t HEE. MAJESTY, OSBORNE, July 15. The Queen and Princess Louis of Hesse drove out yesterday morning. Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse, Prineess Helena, Prince Leopold, and Prince William of Prussia, attended by Madlle. de Grancy, Baroness Dobeneck, the Hon, Flora Macdonald, Couut Furstenstein, Captain von Westerweller, and Colonel the Hon. A. Hardinge, went on board the royal yacht Fairy yesterday afternoon, and cruised in the Solent. Dr. Jenner arrived on Wednesday and returned to London yesterday. Messrs. E. and X. Emanuel, of Portsmouth, had the honour of submitting for her Majesty's inspec tion the gold vase manufactured by them for the Goodwood Race Meeting of the present year. The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Prince of Wales rode on horseback yester' day, attended by Captain Grey. The Prince and Princess of Wales took a car• riage drive. In the evening their Royal Highnesses honoured the Earl and Countess Spencer with their company at dinner at Spencer House, The Hon. Mrs. Stonor and Captain Grey were in attendance. The Prince of Wales honoured Mr. Frith with sitting at his studio for the picture he is now paint ing of the Royal wedding. Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Spencer House, The Earl and Countess Spencer gave a splendid banquet last evening at Spencer House, St. James's, to their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Mary of Cambridge. The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at 10 minutes past eight o'clock, attended by the Hon. Mrs. Stonor and Captain Grey. Their royal high nesses were met on their arrival by the Earl and Countess Spencer, Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Mary came shortly afterwards, attended by Lady Geraldine Somerset and Captain Ellis. There were present to meet the royal party- - The Duke of Rutland, the Marquis and Marchiones s of Abercorn and Lady Georgiana Hamilton, the Marquis of Hartington, the Earl and Countess of Clarendon, Earl Granville, Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor, the Countess (Doweger) Spencer and Lady Sarah Spencer, Viscount and Viscountess Sydney, and Lord Wnkellin. Covers were laid for 20 persons. The Countess Spencer, later in the evening, threvi r open her saloons for the reception of a select party invited to meet the royal guests. About 20 0 persons of rank had the honour to receive invita- tions. After the banquet the whole of the handsome suite of saloons were thrown open for the receptio n of company, the painted saloon being appropriate d for the dancing party. Dancing commenced at eleven o'clock with e quadrille, the Princess of Wales giving her hand to the Earl Spencer, and the Prince of Wales danch4 l with the Countess Spencer. The Princess Mary Of Cambridge danced in the same quadrille with the Earl Grosvenor. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales will honour the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch with their company at dinner, at Richmond, this evening, at six o'clock. A select party has been invited to I) 26 e t , their royal highnesses in the evening, at 8 o'clock, to a 0:011 dance, Morning dress. The Earl of Hopetoun has arrived at Long Hotel. The Countess of Newburg entertained a dinn er party, at her residence in Wilton-crescent, lest evenivg• The Countess of Fife and Lady Anne Duff lea se , town to. day on a visit to Lord and Lady de L'lslo AD' Dudley. The Count and Countess Nicholas Haniskorff and family have arrived at the Brunswick Hotel, Jernayn-street) from Vienna. SIR EDWIN LANDSEER'S LIONS.—As works °I art Sir Edwin Landseer's lions for the bass o f the Nelson column, in the estimation of the Reader, are finitely superior to Canova's lions at St. Peter's, or Tlio r wieldsen's lien at Lucerne. The principal model, about 111 feet long by some eight or nine feet high, would a llaosC appear to have been closely copied from nature, not crow ci tame beast, but from a noble animal in its native wi ldf3 i . The mane, in which sculptured lions are almost all stle'. failures, in this magnificent model is a departure from tll° conventional curled hair, and flows in all its natural bread!' and freedom. If we have wailed long for these lions, tb at least, satisfactory to know that they will bc waiting for. MR ROBSON'S health, we are glad to rep ort ' i 3 greatly improved, and that there aro even hope s of being able to reappear at the Oiympie before the clo se the season.— The Reader. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOClETY.—Nowcastl e ' °ll 4 , Tyne, July 14.—Today there has been a larg; gathering of farmers, country gentry, and inhabitants of ti ll and adjacent towns, to witness the second day's trial of stea l. ploughs and cultivators, and the first day's trial of swing 313 , 0 wheel ploughs, grubbers, and other implements, up,,h,,,i-e grounds of the Royal Agricultural Society at Benton. '-of judges of swing and wheel plou g h s aro M r T. Outhw site ',,,g. Goldsbcrough, Mr E. Whortley, and Mr Dod, of grange ; Mr 'Toward, Britannia Ironworks ; Messrs. somes and Sims, of Ipswich • Messrs. Hunt and Pickeraet Mr Wm. Busby, of Newton-lc-Willows, Leamen ; I de ra . Larkworthy and Co., Worcester ;Mr Wm. an d " t ° e ? Rothwell, Northamptonshire; Mr John Gregory, I ' Ve t t ° o o near South Shields ; Messrs. Turner and Bishop, Leig' - di et Buzzard ; Messrs. E. Page and Co., Bedford, and ° , l ' ll implement makers, had horse ploughs entered ; an d Ais ing the whole of to-day the trial of these horse-0 0 10 has attracted the largest amount of attention of 1;.. nor th- c o u ntry farmers present, who, however, though t a - ,13. ing less notice of the steam ploug hin g , could not wiJa,3' 00 their astonishment at the enormous amount of work 5 :0 , through by these latter-mentioned implements of `c., - 01 bandry. These trials will not all be completed 1/[bot S a turday afternoon. This afternoon it was reporte 4 ;,,te o, Commissioners from France and some other foreign 'c o l' were in the grounds, but the a tt e ndance of distant ng'.lTiedt turalists was not so large as might have been aritic i Pl e .tof The show ground upon N e wcastle town moor is C OWP A - f , ' l; the horses will arrive to-morrow, and the cattle nest ward the show of agricultural implements is in a very O r ;oir* state. In addition to the show of horses and cattle aw e six plements by the Royal Agricultural Society, there wil l - mac elc• exhibition of dogs and poultry on t he to wn moor nest bpd We understand that the lion. J. M. :groan an unofficial interview with Lord Palmerston on 1 1 . 11 ; at Cambridge House , a t the introduction of Mr I,ll' 120 and that the meeting was satisfactory to all parties. „0 re , w ithdrawal of Mr Lindsay's motion was , i t is said, u ' rt of suit of that interview, the Premier having given a S l c Ati implied promise to support it at a mote opportune 0 - ° dew that is to say, when Grant and Sherman have C° 10 f e ated, and the Confederacy stand in no need of recogni —ll - erall. sc °f HORRIBLE SUICIDE. , —A very shocking ;oia• suicide occurred on the Midland Railway at nr ~ht• ton, about a mile from Nottingham, late on Thursd a Y,; c oint On the arrival of the train at Nottingham from 14 ' 0 . 1. , tb° the guard stated that he had run against something line, and a messenger was sent to clear it. On arrivlitivv e jto., Sneinton he found a man lying on the side o f the f ' d 0 0 4 quite dead. Isis head v. as fearfully cut, his leg' ‘ l it aititt i were smashed, and altogether his body presented ft 'pectacle. A razor and lid were found in his Poe l ', e K ith is supposed that the deceased was standing on the lu.Alocld the intention of committing suicide, when. he wa s aia teli' down by the buffers of the engine and killed imweboivso. lie was 200 yards from any crossing, and had no . „ 3 0 ot near the place. Deceased is between 40 and 5 . 0 .. 3b`c gel age, but his name is net known. An inquest wi ll on the body this day. A MERE TRIPLE—HARDLY WORTH 5 1 '' an ci tea.- It is announced with much modesty ooo ,°' t hir- ' can paper that the e deral debt is only 1,700,2000